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Presidential Elections Have Postal Consequences

From National Association of Postmasters of the US (NAPUS) e-newsletter

Among the new appointments that President-elect Obama will make is the Chairmanship of PRC. Although current Chairman Dan Blair’s term on the Commission extends to 2012, he serves as Chairman, at the pleasure of the President. (Dan is a Republican appointee.) Another decision President-elect Obama could make is the nomination of a new USPS Governor.
In the wake of Sen. Barack Obama’s convincing and historic victory, Postmasters should be attentive to changes that a new Administration can bring to postal governance. For example, it is important to recall that one of the catalysts in jump-starting Postal Reform was a concern within the Bush Administration that the Postal Service’s precarious financial situation could have a negative impact on the U.S. Treasury. Moreover, one of the major obstacles to permitting the Postal Service to benefit from the same Medicare Part D rebate, as enjoyed by other employers, was the Bush Administration’s objection.

Among the new appointments that President-elect Obama will make is the Chairmanship of the Postal Regulatory Commission. Although current Chairman Dan Blair’s term on the Commission extends to 2012, he serves as Chairman, at the pleasure of the President. (Dan is a Republican appointee.) Blair may continue to serve as Chairman until Obama designates a new Chairman. It is, therefore, likely that President-elect Obama would choose between Vice Chairman Nanci Langley and Commissioner Ruth Goldway to succeed Dan. Both Langley and Goldway were confirmed as Democratic members of the PRC. Another decision President-elect Obama could make is the nomination of a new USPS Governor. Prior to the September Congressional recess, President Bush nominated former Washoe County NV Assessor Robert McGowan to succeed Alan Kessler on the USPS Board of Governors. If the Senate does not confirm McGowan prior to January 20, Obama could nominate someone else; however, this scenario may be problematic, because Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) recommended McGowan to the White House.

Another impact that the new Administration’s policy could have on the USPS is through its broad legislative agenda. For example, a major health care initiative could impact the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) and Medicare. Postal employees rely on FEHBP for their health care coverage, while most retirees depend on both. Moreover, since FEHBP coordinates its coverage with Medicare, a substantial change in Medicare can impact the FEHBP. As you may recall, in 1993, former President Clinton led an ill-fated crusade to reform the nation’s health care system. Its earliest incarnations would have eliminated the FEHBP or radically modified it. Only through a concerted effort by the Federal/postal community, were we able to educate the Administration and Congress about the importance of the FEHBP. During that same period the USPS was seeking a way to break away from the FEHBP and negotiate its own health plan with postal employees. NAPUS will be working to ensure that the Presidential transition team is attentive to Postmaster issues.

16 thoughts on “Presidential Elections Have Postal Consequences”

I JUST WORK TO PAY TAXES FOR ALL THE HIGHER UP THAT CAN’T BALANCE A BUDGET! I AM IN THE MIDDLE CLASS THAT PAYS FOR EVERYBODY ELSES SCREWUPS. SUCH AS FEMA’s Flood insurance, BOTCHED BAILOUTS THAT WAS CAUSED BY GOVERNMENT ITSELF. MY QUESTION IS WHO IS GOING TO BAIL OUT THE DOLLAR AND GOVERNMENT??? Each American working middle class taxpayer has no chance in this power game that higher ups play.

I think our post office has all this beat!!! Our NALC Treasurer has been the treasurer since 1991. This carrier/treasurer within 18 months took funds totalling over 27,000. Our postmaster took this thief and put him as a 204B over the exact people that he has been accused of stealing from. IS THEIR ANY CODE OF ETHICS IN THE POSTAL SERVICE. Another prime example of working your way to the top. SCREW UP or be sorry at your job to get promoted.

I think our post office has all this beat!!! Our NALC Treasurer has been the treasurer since 1991. This carrier/treasurer within 18 months took funds totalling over 27,000. Our postmaster took this thief and put him as a 204B over the exact people that he has been accused of stealing from. IS THEIR ANY CODE OF ETHICS IN THE POSTAL SERVICE. Another prime example of working your way to the top. SCREW UP or be sorry at your job to get promoted.

I think our post office has all this beat!!! Our NALC Treasurer has been the treasurer since 1991. This carrier/treasurer within 18 months took funds totalling over 27,000. Our postmaster took this thief and put him as a 204B over the exact people that he has been accused of stealing from. IS THEIR ANY CODE OF ETHICS IN THE POSTAL SERVICE. Another prime example of working your way to the top. SCREW UP or be sorry at your job to get promoted.

I think our post office has all this beat!!! Our NALC Treasurer has been the treasurer since 1991. This carrier/treasurer within 18 months took funds totalling over 27,000. Our postmaster took this thief and put him as a 204B over the exact people that he has been accused of stealing from. IS THEIR ANY CODE OF ETHICS IN THE POSTAL SERVICE. Another prime example of working your way to the top. SCREW UP or be sorry at your job to get promoted.

It is probably too late to reverse the damage that Potter and his flunkies have done. Postal Management is incapable of making anything but the stupidest decisions imaginable. The higher up the management ladder that you climb, the more unprofessional and evil spirited they get. I have lost all faith in management to do anything right. I am not alone. Don’t bother turning the light off on your way out folks. Management probably didn’t pay the light bill anyway.

To PMG you need to VP of Lazy Management to Ohio to check on some of your Lazy Mangers who take two or three hour for lunch or who just don’t do any thing. Are 3 or 4 Managers standing around watching one to see what he or she is going to do wrong.

Obama might be a plus for craft employees as far as stopping the move to contract carriers; however, it will take about two decades to recover from the devastation his policies are going to bear on our country economically.

accountable…. if he wont then we must… hold everyone where we work accountable, from every craft employee to every person in management, but it has to start somewhere. If we don’t then everything will be as it was. It has to start somewhere, why not in the work place? Don’t rely on someone else to make changes.